10.3. Product: Things that are not products

Date Published

A thing cannot be a product if it is:

  • an intangible item
  • a design that is applied to a human being.

An intangible item

Tangible objects have material form. Intangible objects are ethereal – they lack material substance. For example, a laser might be controlled to produce a 3-D spatial image of an object. That image is not a ‘thing’ because it is ethereal – that is, it lacks material substance. However, if the laser is used to ‘burn’ that image into a block of Perspex™, it is now a physical ‘thing’ and can be registered.


A design that is applied to a human being

A human being is not something that is manufactured or handmade. An application can be made for a hair style as applied to a wig, but not for a hair style as applied to a person’s actual hair. This is because the ‘product’ to which the design is applied is the human being.

Usually, if this issue arises with an application, it is dealt with as part of the formalities assessment. (If the application details something that is not a ‘product’, it cannot be classified and registered.)

But if this issue is discovered during examination, the registration will be revoked because the design is not registerable and cannot be new and distinctive.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Examples

  • An ornamentation that is designed to go onto an artificial fingernail can be classed as a ‘product’ and can potentially be registered. But an ornamentation that is designed to go onto an actual fingernail is ornamentation of a human being and cannot be registered.
  • Transfers or designs (for example, decals, transfers, patterns for body painting, tattoos, branding and scarification) for ornamentation of a carrier (for example, a mannequin) can be registered. However, the same ornamentation meant for application to the human body is ornamentation of a human being and cannot be registered.

Amended Reasons

Amended Reason Date Amended
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